Mayor Eric Garcetti recently announced two key appointments of African Americans to the influential Board of Public Works and the powerful Los Angeles Metro­politan Transportation Authority.

Garcetti selected former As­semblymember Mike Davis as a commissioner to the Board of Public Works and “Jackie” Dupont-Walker to the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority.

“I want to make sure we’re careful and strategic with our transportation dollars. That’s the only way we’re going to make a real difference in the traffic congestion that costs us billions of dollars in lost productivity and billions of hours in time away from our lives,” Mayor Garcetti said. “I will work to make smart investments in bus and rail to improve the ride for transit-users, speed commutes for drivers, and create new jobs along transit lines and around stations.”

“Jackie” Dupont-Walker is the founding president of Ward Economic Development Corp­oration, a faith-based community development organization, and is chair of the USC Master Plan Advisory Committee where she represents the residents of the West Adams district. She is involved in numerous other civic organizations and serves as the AME Church International Social Action Officer and as the Social Action chair of Delta Sigma Theta – Century City.

“I am looking forward to collaborating with Mayor Garcetti to create an L.A. transportation system that will help bring our city's diverse neighborhoods closer together in every way,” Dupont-Walker said. “A world-class system should be accessible to every L.A. neighborhood, and new transportation hubs and corridors are opportunities to spark much-needed job creation and neighborhood revitalization by spurring local eco­nomies.”

Davis represented the 48th Assembly District from 2006 to 2012 and served as vice chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus and chair of the Select Committee on Rail Transportation. Prior to assuming office, he served as a senior deputy supervisor for Los Angeles County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke and as district director for Congress­woman Maxine Waters during her tenure in both the California State Assembly and US Congress.

“It’s an honor to be trusted by Mayor Eric Garcetti to serve as a member of the Los Angeles Board of Public Works,” Davis said. “My responsibility is to help make the infrastructure of our great city better. I am committed to helping bring efficient and effective services to improve the quality of life for our constituents.”

Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson commended both of the appointments by the mayor.

“As a member of the MTA Board, Jackie Dupont-Walker will be in a key position to provide the oversight we need during the planning and construction of the Crenshaw Line. Her leadership will be crucial to the success of this project,” said Wesson.

“Mike Davis is uniquely qualified to serve the city as a member of the Board of Public Works. The economic downturn has devastated city services. Mike Davis has the experience and will provide the leadership we need to restore these needed services.”

“In just a short time, Mayor Garcetti has demonstrated his commitment to the African American community, and these two appointments of Mike Davis and Jackie Dupont-Walker are a reflection of that commitment,” she said.